WOVJESJSTA 

“TO  OUR 

MBYofLOUlBES. 


S- a 0 

<r 


'J'Xj®  (rdL\  \r~\j , 


The  village  of  Lourdes  is  in  the  South  of  Franco.  Near 
it  is  a cliff,  called  the  “ Roches  Massabielle,”  at  whose  base 
are  three  openings,  as  of  caves,  one  above  the  other.  On 
the  11  th  February,  1858,  a peasant  girl,  Bernadette  Sou- 
birous,  nged  14,  went  to  gather  dry  branches  near  the  cliff. 
Whilst  there,  she  suddenly  beheld  near  her,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  largest  cavern,  a Lady  of  supreme  loveliness,  clad 
in  white,  with  a white  mantle  over  her  head  and  dropping 
down  to  her  feet,  on  each  of  which  glittered  a golden  rose. 
A sa9h  of  blue  encircled  her  waist  and  its  ends  floated  to 
the  ground.  A rosary  with  a golden  cross  completed  the 
vision.  The  Lady  bade  the  shepherdess  come  to  the  grotto 
for  several  d-  ya ; and  on  the  25th  of  February,  told  her  to 
drink  and  wash  at  a fountain.  There  was  no  fountain 
near;  but  the  child  crept  on  her  knees  to  the  spot  pointed 
out,  and  removing  some  dry  leaves,  scratched  the  ground, 
when  a thin  thread  of  water  appeared.  Bernadette  drank 
a few  drops  and  washed  herself.  On  the  next  day,  the  flow 
was  more  copious,  and  miraculous  cures  were  wrought. 
Shortly  afterwards,  100,000  litres  of  water  >vere  poured  out 
daily.  Miracle  followed  miracle  in  quick  succession.  A 
magnificent  church  has  been  erected  on  the  Roches  Massa- 
bielle; Pilgrims  flock  to  it.  The  water  is  carried  to  all 
parts  of  the  world,  and  countless  miracles  are  wrought  by 
it. 

Copyright  Secured  according  to  Act  of  Congreee,  by  John  Murphy. 


Morphy  & Co.,  Publishers,  Baltimore. 


OUR  LADY  OF  LOURDES. 

As  she  appeared  to  Bernadette,  on  the  11th  Feb,,  1858, 

Copyright  Secured  according  to  Act  of  Cvngreee.by  John  Murphy. 

Murphy  A Co.,  Baltimore. 


^xzhtt  to  ibe  Ebirir  (Ebilxcrr. 

IIIS  little  book  so  pleased  and  edified  the 


translator  during  the  happy  hours  he 
spent  at  the  grotto  of  Lourdes,  that  he  thought 
it  would  be  welcome  to  thousands  at  home. 

A few  modifications  have  made  the  novena 
quite  as  fit  for  use  on  our  side  of  the  ocean,  as 
at  the  holy  shrine  itself. 

While  mainly  intended  for  the  sick, — and  at 
the  sick-bed  its  lessons  and  prayers  will  be 
found  a God-send, — it  is  equally  adapted  for 
any  other  class  of  persons  who  have  some  spe- 
cial favor  to  ask,  in  behalf  of  themselves  or 
others;  and  who  is  there  that  has  nothing  to 
ask  ? 

May  our  sweet  Lady’s  blessing  attend  all 
who  use  it. 

The  rapid  sale  of  the  first  and  second  edi- 
tions has  shown  both  how  wide-spread  is  the 
devotion  to  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  and  how 
great  was  the  need  of  a little  manual  like  this. 
It  is  hoped  that  this  third  revised  edition  will 
be  rendered  still  more  acceptable  and  useful 
by  the  addition  of  the  Litany  of  Our  Lady  of 
Lourdes,  which  may  be  recited  each  day  before 
or  after  the  Prayer. 


in 


The  Apparition 


OF  OUR 

Blessed  Lady  at  Lourdes. 

A BRIEF  account  of  the  apparition 
will  enable  the  reader  to  perform 
this  novena  more  understanding^  and 
profitably.  Whoever  has  read  the  Old 
and  New  Testaments,  knows  that  very 
many  heavenly  apparitions  are  therein 
related.  The  history  of  the  Church 
shows  that  these  were  not  confined  to 
the  biblical  times,  but  have  in  all  ages 
been  made  use  of  by  Almighty  God,  for 
purposes  of  special  warning  or  instruc- 
tion, to  give  heavenly  encouragement  to 
religious  undertakings,  or  solemn  ap- 
proval to  some  truth  or  fact.  And  no 
one  can  have  failed  to  remark  how  often, 
in  these  apparitions,  it  is  the  poor  and 
little  ones  that  He  chooses,  as  His  mes- 
sengers, to  the  great  and  wise  ones  of  the 

6 


6 


THE  APPARITION  OF  OUR 


world.  These  considerations  are  enough 
to  prepare  any  impartial  mind  for  the 
following  perfectly  authenticated  facts. 

During  the  year  1858,  it  pleased  Di- 
vine Providence  that  the  Holy  Mother 
of  God  should  appear  eighteen  times 
near  the  little  town  of  Lourdes,  in 
France,  at  the  foot  of  the  Pyrenees. 
The  favored  being  chosen  as  the  recipi- 
ent of  these  heavenly  visitations,  was 
Bernadette  Soubirous,  a shepherd  girl 
of  thirteen  years,  who  from  her  earliest 
childhood  had  been  a model  of  piety 
and  angelic  innocence. 

On  the  11th  of  February  in  that  year, 
at  about  11  o’clock  in  the  forenoon,  Ber- 
nadette went  with  her  sister  and  another 
young  girl  to  gather  sticks  for  her  poor 
mother’s  fire,  along  the  banks  of  the 
Gave,  a torrent  that  runs  past  Lourdes. 
Their  occupation  led  them  step  by  step 
to  the  foot  of  a spur  of  the  mountains 
called  in  the  patois  of  the  neighborhood 
Massdbielles , that  is,  the  Old  Rocks.  It 
rises  almost  perpendicularly  from  near 
the  bank  of  the  Gave ; and  in  its  base, 


BLESSED  LADY  AT  LOURDES.  7 


at  the  level  of  the  ground,  are  the  cavern 
and  the  niche  in  the  rock  just  above  it, 
since  then  so  renowned  under  the  name 
of  the  Grotto  of  Lourdes.  While  Ber- 
nadette was  in  a stooping  posture  in 
front  of  the  Massabielle,  she  heard  a 
noise  as  of  a rushing  wind.  Looking 
around,  she  saw  that  the  branches  of  the 
poplars  did  not  move,  and  judged  she 
was  mistaken.  In  a moment  the  same 
sound  came  again,  and  again  looking 
up,  with  a cry  which  fright  smothered 
in  her  throat,  and  trembling  in  every 
limb,  she  fell  on  her  knees.  She  saw  a 
Lady  of  heavenly  beauty,  and  sur- 
rounded by  a light  of  heavenly  bright- 
ness, standing  in  the  rocky  niche  above 
the  cavern.  Her  face  beamed  with 
mingled  majesty  and  sweetness.  Her 
garments  were  as  white  as  the  mountain 
snow.  A girdle,  blue  as  the  heavens, 
hung  in  two  long  bands  from  her  waist 
nearly  to  her  feet.  A white  veil  fell  be- 
hind from  her  head  to  the  hem  of  her 
garment.  On  each  of  her  feet  was  a 
rose  of  golden  color.  In  her  hands  she 


8 


THE  APPARITION  OF  OUR 


held  a chaplet,  whose  milk-white  beads 
were  gliding  one  by  one  through  her 
fingers;  but  her  lips  moved  not;  she  ap- 
peared not  to  be  reciting  the  rosary,  but 
to  be  listening  to  its  recitation  as  it  rose 
to  her  ear  from  every  corner  of  the 
world.  She  made  the  sign  of  the  cross. 
Bernadette  did  the  same,  and,  her  fright 
diminishing  beneath  the  sweet  smile  of 
the  beautiful  Lady,  she  commenced  to 
say  the  rosary.  Just  as  the  kneeling 
child  finished  the  last  decade,  the  Lady 
disappeared.  She  had  been  visible  only 
to  Bernadette;  neither  her  sister  nor 
their  young  companion  had  seen  any- 
thing. 

The  parents,  puzzled  by  so  strange  a 
story,  were  at  first  unwilling  that  the 
children  should  return  to  the  place. 
Only  on  the  third  day  after  were  they 
allowed  to  go.  They  were  kneeling  but 
a few  minutes  before  the  grotto,  when 
Bernadette’s  suddenly  transfigured  face 
showed  that  the  brightness  of  the  lovely 
Lady  was  again  shining  on  her.  This 
second  apparition  was  quite  like  the  first. 


BLESSED  LADY  AT  LOURDES. 


9 


Three  days  after,  the  child  again  ob- 
tained permission  to  go  to  the  holy  spot, 
and  this  time  accompanied  by  others. 
Again  appeared  the  heavenly  Lady,  her 
presence  visible  only  to  Bernadette,  but 
unmistakably  evidenced  to  the  others 
by  the  transfiguration  of  her  gazing 
countenance.  This  time,  on  being  ques- 
tioned by  the  child,  the  Lady  spoke,  and 
asked  her  to  come  daily  for  fifteen  days. 
In  answer  to  Bernadette’s  promise,  the 
Lady  said:  “And  I promise  to  render 
you  happy,  not  in  this  but  in  the  other 
world.”  She  added  that  she  wished 
many  people  to  come  to  the  spot  on  the 
succeeding  days. 

The  child  was  faithful  to  her  promise, 
and  as  the  event  became  noised  abroad, 
an  immense  multitude  of  all  classes 
daily  accompanied  her  to  the  grotto. 
Many  went  only  to  test  the  case ; but 
the  most  skeptical  became  convinced,  as 
they  looked  at  the  beaming  face  of  the 
entranced  girl,  that  it  was  no  deception 
nor  hallucination,  but  a beautiful  re- 
ality. 


10 


THE  APPARITION  OF  OUR 


Every  day  the  Lady  appeared,  with 
the  exception  of  one,  on  which  occasion 
Bernadette  had  to  return  home  filled 
with  sorrow  at  not  having  seen  her.  But 
this  exception  seemed  to  come  only  as 
another  proof  that  the  child’s  ecstatic 
condition  during  those  happy  moments 
was  not  the  result  of  any  nervousness  or 
imagination  on  her  own  part,  but  the 
effect  alone  of  a heavenly  apparition. 

On  one  occasion  the  lady  told  her  to 
pray  for  sinners.  Another  time  she  gave 
her  this  message : “ Xow  go,  my  child, 

and  tell  the  priests  that  a chapel  must 
be  built  on  this  spot,  and  that  the  people 
must  come  to  it  in  processions.”  An- 
other day  the  Lady  exclaimed  with  a 
look  of  unutterable  sadness : “ Pen- 
ance ! penance ! penance!  ” and  the  child 
was  heard  to  repeat  it  aloud  after  her ; 
and  again  on  that  day  the  Holy  Virgin 
commanded  her  to  pray  for  sinners,  and 
to  kiss  the  ground  as  an  act  of  penance 
for  the  conversion  of  sinners. 

When  the  child  carried  the  Lady’s 
message  to  the  parish  priest,  the  good 


BLESSED  LADY  AT  LOURDES.  11 


Father,  in  order  to  guard  against  decep- 
tion, told  her  to  ask  the  Lady  that,  as  a 
sign  of  the  truth  of  the  apparitions,  the 
wild  rose-bush  which  grew  out  of  the 
rock  beneath  the  niche  should  bloom. 
The  Lady,  on  hearing  the  request,  only 
smiled,  and  on  that  occasion  said  noth- 
ing about  it.  But  soon  she  was  to  give 
a tar  more  wronderful  proof  than  that 
which  had  been  asked.  One  day  there- 
fore she  said  to  Bernadette : “ Now,  go 
drink  and  wash  in  the  fountain,”  point- 
ing at  the  same  time  to  a spot  in  the 
grotto  which  was  perfectly  dry,  and  in 
which  no  water  had  ever  been  seen. 
Bernadette,  not  seeing  how  she  could 
otherwise  comply  with  the  command, 
started  toward  the  waters  of  the  Gave. 
But  the  Holy  Virgin  stopped  her : “ Do 
not  go  there,”  said  she ; “ I have  not 
•spoken  of  drinking  from  the  Gave ; go 
to  the  fountain;  it  is  there.”  pointing 
again  to  the  same  spot  in  the  grotto. 
Obedient  to  the  sign,  the  child  began  to 
scoop  the  earth  w'ith  her  fingers.  A 
mysterious  water  rose  beneath  her 


12 


THE  APPARITION  OF  OUR 


hands,  and  drop  by  drop  filled  the  little 
hollow  she  had  made.  Muddy  though 
it  was  at  first,  the  obedient  child  drank 
of  it,  as  she  had  been  commanded.  In 
a few  moments  it  was  running  in  a 
slender  stream  toward  the  amazed  spec- 
tators. The  miraculous  fountain  had 
sprung  up,  which  steadily  increased  in 
volume  till  it  poured  out,  as  it  does  now, 
about  a hundred  thousand  quarts  a day, 
and  whose  waters,  carried  to  every  part 
of  the  world,  have  been  the  means  of 
very  many  authentic  miraculous  cures, 
the  first  of  which  took  place  in  the  town 
of  Lourdes  itself,  just  after  the  appear- 
ance of  the  fountain. 

On  the  25th  of  March,  the  festival  of 
the  Annunciation,  took  place  what  may 
be  considered  the  most  important  of  all 
the  apparitions.  Bernadette  had  been 
advised  to  ask  the  Lady  that  she  would 
be  pleased  to  tell  her  name.  When, 
therefore,  the  vision  on  that  day  ap- 
peared as  usual,  Bernadette  said  to  her: 
“ 0 Lady,  be  so  kind  as  to  tell  me  who 
you  are  and  what  is  your  name.”  Three 


BLESSED  LADY  AT  LOURDES.  13 


times  she  asked  the  question  without 
other  reply  than  a smile  of  ineffable 
sweetness,  and  each  time  that  she  asked 
it,  the  glory  and  beauty  of  the  Lady 
seemed  to  grow  greater  and  more  won- 
derful. A fourth  time  she  asked:  “0 
Lady,  I beseech  you  be  so  kind  as  to  tell 
me  who  you  are  and  what  is  your  name.” 
This  time,  the  blessed  Lady  unclasped 
her  hands,  slipped  her  chaplet  over  her 
dght  arm,  first  raised  her  hands  toward 
neaven,  then  joined  them  before  her 
breast,  and  gazing  up  with  a look  of  un- 
utterable happiness  and  gratitude,  said : 

“I  am  the  Immaculate  Conception.” 

Having  so  spoken,  she  disappeared. 
These  few  words,  by  far  the  most  im- 
portant fact  in  the  apparitions,  have 
marked  the  grotto  of  Lourdes  as  the 
heaven-appointed  special  sanctuary  of 
the  Immaculate  Conception;  and  all 
the  wonders  that  have  made  it  famous, 
redound  to  the  honor  of  that  glorious 
privilege  of  our  Blessed  Mother. 

As  to  the  long  series  of  tests,  which 


14  THE  APPARITION  OF  OUH 


during  fifteen  years  have  placed  the 
authenticity  of  these  events  beyond 
doubt,  and  have  attracted  to  Lourdes 
the  devotion  of  Christians  throughout 
the  world,  a word  must  suffice. 

During  several  months,  the  civil  au- 
thorities of  the  town,  goaded  on  by  the 
infidel  press  of  the  country,  resorted  to 
every  artifice  of  cunning  and  violence, 
in  order  to  bring  discredit  on  the  appa- 
ritions and  to  drive  away  the  thousands 
who  flocked  from  all  parts  to  the  grotto. 
Their  endeavors  only  brought  shame  on 
themselves,  and  added  evidence  to  the 
events,  and  were  finally  put  a stop  to  by 
a positive  command  from  the  Emperor 
Napoleon  III. 

The  ecclesiastical  authorities,  being 
petitioned  from  every  quarter  to  in- 
vestigate these  wonderful  occurrences 
and  pass  sentence  on  them,  at  length 
took  up  the  matter.  The  Bishop  of 
Tarbes,  to  which  diocese  Lourdes  be- 
longs, appointed  a commission  of  pru- 
dent and  learned  men,  who  during  four 
years  sifted  most  thoroughly  the  evi- 
dence for  the  apparitions  and  for  the 


BLESSED  LADY  AT  LOURDES.  15 


miraculous  cures  effected  by  the  water 
of  the  fountain;  and  only  after  so  long 
a time,  spent  in  the  most  careful  inves- 
tigations, the  result  of  v/hich  was  to 
place  the  authenticity  of  the  facts  be- 
yond all  question,  did  the  bishop  publish 
his  approval  of  the  same,  and  officially 
declare  that  the  faithful  might  hold  them 
for  certain. 

In  a Brief  of  Sept.  4th,  1869,  our  Holy 
Father,  Pope  Pius  IX.,  indirectly  con- 
firmed the  above  decision  of  the  bishop, 
by  congratulating  Henry  Lasserre  on 
the  masterly  manner  in  which,  in  his 
book,  “ Notre  Dame  de  Lourdes,”  he  had 
“so  proved  and  established  the  truth 
of  the  recent  apparition  of  the  most 
clement  Mother  of  God,  that  the  very 
struggle  of  human  malice  against  the 
divine  mercy  serves  but  to  bring  out 
more  forcibly  the  luminous  evidence 
of  the  fact.”  To  this  admirable  book, 
the  author’s  thank-offering  for  his  own 
miraculous  cure,  the  English  translation 
of  which  can  be  procured  everywhere, 
the  reader  is  referred  for  the  fullest 
and  best  account  of  the  apparitions. 


16 


THE  APPARITION  OF  OUR 


M.  Artus,  a gentleman  of  Paris,  hav- 
ing witnessed  the  miraculous  cure  of  his 
own  niece,  published  in  the  newspapers 
a challenge  to  a wager  of  ten  thousand 
francs,  that  not  even  two  out  of  all  the 
miracles  related  in  Henry  Lasserre’s 
book  could  be  disproved.  There  was  no 
one  found  to  accept  the  challenge. 

Shortly  after,  a certain  physician  hav- 
ing asserted  that  Bernadette’s  was  a 
mere  case  of  hallucination,  the  same  M. 
Artus  again  offered  the  same  wager  of 
ten  thousand  francs  for  its  proof.  At 
the  same  time,  the  Bishop  of  Xevers 
wrote  to  the  physician,  as  follows: 

“I  have  the  honor  to  certify  to  you: 
“1st.  That  Bernadette,  now  called 
Sister  Mary  Bernard,  resides  at  Isevers, 
in  the  mother-house  of  the  Sisters  of< 
Charity  and  Christian  Instruction ; that 
she  entered  and  remains  there  with  as 
perfect  freedom  as  any  of  the  other 
Sisters. 

“2d.  That  far  from  being  insane,  Ber- 
nadette is  a person  of  uncommon  wis- 
dom and  of  an  incomparably  charming 
character.  And  moreover,  I will  take 


BLESSED  LADY  AT  LOURDES.  17 


the  liberty  of  inviting  the  said  illustrious 
physician  to  come  and  verify  in  person 
the  exactitude  of  my  affirm ation.” 

The  learned  doctor  had  not  a word  to 
reply,  and  was  never  heard  from  again. 

The  Water  of  the  Miraculous  Fountain. 

Such  quantities  of  the  water  have  in 
late  years  been  brought  to  this  country, 
that  it  is  now  comparatively  easy  to  ob- 
tain it.  They  who  cannot  procure  it 
otherwise  need  only  w’rite  to  the  Father 
Superior  of  the  Missionaries , Lourdes , 
France , sending  address  in  full,  and  the 
water  will  be  forwarded,  with  no  expense 
save  that  of  transportation. 

The  following  novena  will  be  an  ex- 
cellent preparation  for  using  it.  Three 
Hail  Marys,  in  honor  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception,  might  be  recited  at  the 
moment  of  using  it. 

The  water  is  sometimes  drunk,  some- 
times applied  externally,  sometimes  used 
in  both  ways,  according  to  the  words  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  to  Bernadette.  “ Go, 
drink  from  and  wash  in  the  fountain/* 
2 


18 


THE  APPARITION,  ETC. 


Sometimes  it  is  used  every  day  during 
the  novena,  sometimes  only  on  the  last 
day,  according  to  the  quantity  that  can 
be  procured. 

Now,  dear  sufferer,  may  you,  through 
the  intercession  of  our  dear  Lady  of 
Lourdes,  recover  your  health  or  obtain 
whatsoever  other  favor  you  have  to  ask 
of  her,  and  may  you  make  use  of  it  for 
the  greater  glory  of  God  and  for  the 
honor  of  Mary  Immaculate. 

Should  suffering  render  you  incapa- 
ble of  reading  the  considerations,  or  of 
listening  while  they  are  read  to  you,  use 
only  the  short  prayer  assigned  for  each 
day,  and  read  the  considerations  at  some 
later  time. 

N.  B. — The  use  of  the  novena  does 
not  necessarily  suppose  the  use  of  the 
water.  Even  without  the  latter,  the  con- 
siderations and  prayers  of  the  novena 
itself  cannot  fail  to  increase  devotion 
and  obtain  blessings. 


NOVENA 


TO 

Our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

FOR  THE  USE  OF  THE  SICK  AND  AFFLICTED 
FIEST  DAY. 

How  ready  Mary  is  to  help  us. 

I.  This  poor  life  is  full  of  bitterness 
and  sorrow.  We  all  stand  in  need  of 
help  and  comfort.  Happy  then  are 
they  who  have  learned  to  turn  fre- 
quently to  the  sweet  refuge  of  the  un- 
fortunate and  comforter  of  the  afflicted, 
our  dear  Mother  Mary.  Richard  of 
Saint  Lawrence  assures  us  that  Mary’s 
compassion  is  extended  to  all  who  in- 
voke her,  were  it  only  by  a Hail  Mary. 
An  angel  said  to  St.  Bridget,  that  no  one 
ever  prays  to  Mary  without  obtaining 
help  from  her.  She  is  so  kind-hearted, 
said  he,  that  no  one  ever  fails  to  expe- 

19 


20 


NOVENA. 


rience  her  goodness,  who  asks  anything 
from  God  through  her  intercession. 

II.  Still  more,  so  great  is  the  com- 
passion of  this  tender  Mother  toward 
us,  so  lively  her  interest  in  our  welfare, 
that,  says  St.  Liguori,  she  grants  us 
assistance  even  before  we  ask  it.  St. 
Anselm  says  that  Mary  anticipates  the 
prayer  of  those  who  desire  her  protec- 
tion, such  is  her  haste  to  help  us. 
Hence  we  may  conclude  that  she  asks 
of  God  many  graces  for  us,  even  before 
we  have  asked  them  for  ourselves.  We 
see  an  instance  of  this  in  what  the  Holy 
Gospel  tells  us  of  the  marriage  feast 
of  Cana,  in  Galilee.  It  was  not  the 
spouses,  though  they  were  the  interested 
parties,  who  asked  the  favor  then  grant- 
ed by  our  Lord.  It  was  Mary,  w~ho, 
seeing  that  the  wine  was  failing,  and 
compassionating  their  embarrassment, 
turned  to  her  Divine  Son,  who,  at  her 
request,  wrought  his  first  miracle. 


NOVENA. 


21 


III.  If  then  Mary  is  so  ready  to  help 
us  in  our  need,  even  when  she  is  not 
asked,  how  much  more  readily  must 
she  come  to  our  assistance  when  we 
implore  her  aid.  St.  Anselm,  in  order 
to  increase  our  confidence  in  her,  as- 
sures us,  that  when  we  address  ourselves 
to  the  Mother  of  God,  not  only  may  we 
be  sure  of  her  assistance,  but  our  prayers 
will  often  be  even  more  quickly  and 
abundantly  answered  through  the  in- 
vocation of  her  name,  than  through 
the  invocation  of  the  name  of  Our  Lord. 
And  let  us  not  be  startled  at  this  asser- 
tion. “For,”  he  says,  “Jesus  Christ, 
our  Saviour,  is  also  our  Judge,  and 
must  consequently  visit  justice  on  our 
iniquities ; while  the  Blessed  Virgin,  as 
our  advocate  and  Mother,  is  bound  to 
nothing  but  pity  and  affection.” 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  bless 
me  and  help  me.  Thou,  whom  the 


NOVENA. 


Saints  have  proclaimed  so  full  of  pity 
and  kindness  toward  us, — thou,  who 
art  everywhere  invoked  with  so  much 
confidence, — thou,  who  hast  deigned  to 
appear  in  the  grotto  of  Lourdes  as  a 
sweet  messenger  of  grace  and  mercy, 
with  a smile  of  motherly  tenderness  on 
thy  lips,  — show  now  thy  goodness  to- 
ward me,  thy  poor  child.  Obtain  for 
me,  I beseech  thee,  the  graces  I stand 
in  need  of  for  my  sanctification ; obtain 
for  me  patience  in  suffering;  and  if  it 
be  God’s  will,  obtain  for  me  restoration 
to  health,  (or  whatever  other  favor  is 
specially  asked  for  in  the  novena.) 
Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us.  (. Repeat  three  times.) 

SECOND  DAY. 

What  influence  Mary  has  with  God . 

I.  Mary’s  power  to  help  us  .is  as 
great  as  her  willingness  to  do  it.  St. 
Bernardin  of  Sienna  goes  so  far  as  to 


NOYENA. 


23 


say  that  not  only  has  Almighty  God 
made  Mary  Queen  of  angels  and  of 
men,  but  He  even  deigns  Himself  to 
be  subject  to  her  sweet  empire.  By 
this  the  Saint  does  not  mean,  of  course, 
that  Mary  has  any  authority  of  her 
own  over  the  Divine  Majesty,  but  that 
God  so  loves  and  honors  her,  that  he 
grants  her  prayers  even  as  if  they  were 
commands.  St.  Anselm  thus  addresses 
her:  “The  Lord  so  honors  thee,  O 
holy  Virgin,  that  His  favor  renders 
thee  all-powerful.”  It  often  happens 
that  something  asked  of  God  is  refused, 
but,  when  asked  through  Mary,  i3 
granted.  Now  why  is  this?  “It  is,” 
answers  Nicephorus,  “ not  because  Ma  ry 
is  more  powerful  than  God,  but  be- 
cause Our  Lord  has  decreed  so  to  do 
honor  to  His  Mother.” 

II.  Now  perhaps  you  will  ask  what 
is  the  secret  of  this  wonderful  powrer 
possessed  by  Mary.  It  is  because,  as 


24 


NOVENA. 


was  revealed  to  St.  Bridget,  Our  Lord 
has  pledged  Himself  never  to  reject  a 
request  of  His  Mother,  since  He  could 
refuse  nothing  to  her  who  had  never 
refused  Him  anything  on  earth.  And 
St.  Gertrude  heard  the  same  dear 
Saviour  saying  to  His  holy  Mother: 
“ Know  that,  in  virtue  of  my  omnipo- 
tence, I give  thee  power  to  show  mercy, 
in  such  manner  as  thou  wilt,  to  every 
sinner  that  calls  upon  thee.” 

III.  Moreover,  St.  Ambrose  remarks 
that  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  the 
very  fact  of  making  Mary  His  Mother, 
obliged  Himself  to  be  subject  to  her. 
Of  the  other  saints  it  may  be  said  that 
God  is  with  them ; but  to  Mary  it  has 
been  granted  not  only  that  she  should 
have  the  most  perfect  conformity  to 
the  will  of  God,  but  that  God  should 
conform  Himself  to  her  will,  as  the 
holy  Gospel  expressly  declares  of  our 
Divine  Saviour;  and  while  the  other 


NOVENA. 


25 


virgins  follow  the  Lamb  whithersoever 
He  goeth,  the  Lamb  Himself  followed 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  while  on 
earth,  being  subject  to  her.  And  now 
in  heaven,  though  the  Blessed  Virgin 
no  longer  commands  her  Son,  yet  her 
prayers  are  always  the  prayers  of  a 
Mother,  that  is  to  say,  they  never  meet 
a refusal. 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  blessed  Lady  of  Lourdes,  thou 
whose  influence  with  Almighty  God  is 
so  great  that  thy  prayers  are  never  re- 
fused, have  pity  on  me  thy  needy  child. 
O Virgin  most  holy ! O Virgin  most 
powerful!  turn  not  away  from  me, 
though  all  unworthy,  nor  disdain  to 
plead  in  my  behalf.  Heed  not  my  un- 
worthiness, but  the  promptings  of  thy 
own  heart,  thou  who  art  as  rich  in 
mercy  as  in  power.  Use  thy  bound- 
less influence  to  obtain  for  me  patience 


26 


KOVENA. 


in  my  sufferings,  restoration  to  health 
(or  other  favor),  and  the  grace  to  make 
a good  use  of  it  for  the  glory  of  God. 
A men. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us.  ( Three  times.) 

THIKD  DAY. 

What  Confidence  we  ought  to  have  in 
Mary. 

I.  Dear  reader,  methinks  I hear  you 
say : Ah ! no  doubt  Mary  is  both  good 
and  powerful,  but  I have  committed  so 
many  sins  that  I do  not  deserve  to  be 
heard.  I answer : Are  you  more  guilty 
than  the  devil?  Well,  St.  Bridget 
tells  us  in  her  revelations,  that  she 
once  heard  our  Lord  say  to  the  Blessed 
Virgin:  “My  Mother,  thou  wouldst  be 
ready  to  ask  pardon  for  Lucifer  him- 
self if  he  had  recourse  to  thee.”  Now 
it  is  true  that  the  proud  fallen  angel 
will  never  humble  himself  to  ask  Mary's 


NOVENA. 


27 


help;  but  in  the  supposition  that  he 
could  and  would  do  so,  she  would  have 
clemency  enough  to  ask  for  his  pardon, 
and  influence  enough  to  obtain  it. 
That  which  can  never  be  realized  in 
the  case  of  the  devil,  takes  place  every 
day  in  regard  to  poor  sinners  who  have 
recourse  to  this  Mother  of  mercy. 

II.  Moreover,  Mary  declared  to  the 
same  Saint  that  she  is  the  Mother  not 
only  of  the  just  and  innocent,  but  also 
of  sinners,  provided  only  that  they  wish 
to  amend  their  life.  When  a sinner 
casts  himself  at  the  feet  of  this  bounti- 
ful Mother,  with  a firm  determination 
to  do  better,  he  finds  her  more  tender 
and  compassionate  than  his  own  mother 
could  be.  The  Queen  of  heaven  is  so 
full  of  pity  for  our  wretchedness,  that 
when  a poor  sinner  has  recourse  to  her, 
she  never  stops  to  reflect  how  little  he 
deserves,  or  even  how  utterly  unde- 
serving he  may  be, — she  only  sees  that 


28 


NOVENA. 


he  is  repentant,  and  opens  her  arms  to 
receive  him. 

III.  Pray  to  her  then  with  confi- 
dence, poor  sinners ! Although  prayer, 
says  St.  Bernard,  has  no  beauty  in  the 
mouth  of  a sinner,  because  he  is  not  in 
the  state  of  grace,  yet  it  is  very  useful 
and  salutary  toward  escaping  from  the 
state  of  sin,  because,  as  St.  Thomas 
teaches,  it  helps  him  to  obtain  for- 
giveness; the  efficacy  of  prayer  being 
founded,  not  on  the  merits  of  him  who 
prays,  but  on  the  goodness  of  God  and 
the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  who  Him- 
self assures  us  that  whatever  we  ask  in 
His  name  shall  be  granted  us.  So  it 
is  likewise  with  what  we  ask  in  the 
name  of  His  most  holy  Mother.  “If 
he  who  prays,”  says  St.  Anselm,  “is 
not  worthy  to  be  heard,  the  merits  of 
Mary,  whose  assistance  he  implores, 
will  intercede  for  him.” 


NOVENA. 


29 


Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  compassionate  Lady  of 
Lourdes,  who  hast  shown  thy  affection 
for  poor  sinners  by  commanding  Ber- 
nadette to  pray  for  them  and  to  get 
others  to  pray  for  them,  exercise  now 
thy  compassion  in  my  regard.  O my 
Mother  and  my  advocate,  I know  that 
my  sins  render  me  unworthy  to  ap- 
proach thee;  but  I know  also,  sweet 
Refuge  of  sinners,  that  thy  goodness 
will  not  reject  me.  I come  to  thee 
then  with  humble  confidence.  I lay 
all  my  miseries  before  thee,  and  im- 
plore thy  help.  O above  all  things 
obtain  for  me  true  repentance  for  my 
sins,  and  entire  pardon  for  them.  And 
if  it  be  the  holy  will  of  God,  obtain 
for  me  restoration  to  health,  and  the 
grace  to  make  a good  use  of  it  for  the 
glory  of  God. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 


30 


NOVENA. 


FOURTH  DAY. 

Mary  obtains  for  us  the  Pardon  of  our 
Sins. 

I.  Mary  works  in  our  behalf,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  plan  of  salvation 
marked  out  for  us  by  Our  Lord.  Now, 
for  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins,  He  has 
established  the  Sacrament  of  Penance. 
Hence  Mary’s  efforts  are  directed  to- 
ward obtaining  for  us  the  grace  to 
make  a good  confession.  For  this  she 
labors  with  a solicitude  from  which 
not  even  the  most  wretched  sinner  is 
excluded.  Let  us  dwell  still  more  on 
this  consoling  thought.  Yes,  it  is  true 
that  the  multitude  of  our  sins  must 
never  diminish  our  confidence  in  Mary, 
when  we  wish  to  get  back  to  God;  A 
good  mother  does  not  shrink  from  at- 
tending her  son  when  he  is  smitten  with 
a contagious  disease.  So,  neither  does 
Mary  turn  away  in  disgust  from  our 
souFs  maladies,  no  matter  how  loath- 


NOYEZtfA. 


31 


some  they  may  be.  Nay,  the  greater  isi 
the  wretchedness  of  the  poor  sinner,  the 
greater  is  the  compassion  of  this  tender 
Mother.  St.  Bernard  asks  why  the 
Church  calls  Mary  the  Mother  of 
mercy,  and  answers : because  no  sin- 
ner, no  matter  how  enormous  his  crimes 
have  been,  can  perish,  if  he  take  refuge, 
repentant,  under  Mary’s  protection. 

II.  I am,  said  the  holy  Virgin  to  St. 
Bridget,  I am  the  Queen  of  heaven  and 
the  Mother  of  mercy ; I am  the  delight 
of  the  just,  and  the  door  through  which 
poor  sinners  get  to  God ; there  is  not 
one  on  earth  to  whom  I refuse  pity, 
not  one  that  has  not  received  some 
grace  through  my  intercession,  were  it 
only  to  be  less  violently  tempted  by  the 
devil.  No  sinner,  she  added,  unless  he 
be  totally  reprobate,  (which  can  be  the 
case  only  with  the  damned,)  is  so 
utterly  rejected  by  God  that  he  cannot 
return  to  grace  through  me. 


32 


NO  YEN  A. 


III.  Sinners,  whoever  you  may  be, 
should  the  grievousness  of  your  sins 
make  you  doubt,  not  of  Mary’s  power, 
but  of  her  compassion  in  your  regard, 
remember  that,  as  she  herself  declared 
to  a holy  religious,  after  the  title  of 
Mother  of  God,  there  is  none  dearer  to 
her  than  that  of  Refuge  of  sinners. 
St.  Augustin,  contemplating  Mary’s 
zeal  in  interceding  for  us,  cries  out  to 
her:  “Man  has  but  one  supporter 
before  his  Judge,  and  that  one  thou 
art.”  The  other  saints  indeed  pray  for 
us ; but  so  supremely  do  Mary’s  charity 
and  power  surpass  theirs,  that  she  may 
well  be  called  our  one  protector,  and, 
according  to  the  forcible  expression  of 
St.  Germanus,  she  never  feels  as  if  she 
were  doing  enough  for  us. 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  blessed  Lady  of  Lourdes,  I 
come  to  claim  a share  in  thy  boundless 


NOVENA. 


33 


compassion  and  goodness.  Remember 
that  thy  mercy  has  never  failed  any 
one.  Nay,  permit  me  even  to  remind 
thee,  that  whatever  gifts  thou  hast  of 
grace  and  glory,  even  to  thy  divine 
maternity,  thou  owest  all  in  a certain 
sense  to  poor  sinners,  since  it  was  for 
sinners  that  God  became  thy  Son. 
Look  on  me,  then,  O Mary,  and  bless 
me,  and  help  me.  Obtain  for  me 
purity  of  soul  and  health  of  body. 
Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 

FIFTH  DAY. 

Mary  is  in  a Special  Manner  the  Pro- 
tectress of  France . 

I.  Twenty-five  years  ago,  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary  appeared  at  La  Salette ; 
twelve  years  after,  took  place  her  ap- 
parition in  the  grotto  of  Lourdes ; and 
twelve  years  later  still,  she  again  mani- 
3 


34 


NOVENA. 


fested  herself  as  a sweet  messenger  of 
hope  and  mercy  at  Pontmain  in  Brit- 
tany. What  other  nation  has  ever 
been  favored  with  apparitions  so 
solemn  and  so  closely  succeeding  one 
another?  It  would  seem  as  if  Mary, 
abandoning  her  native  land,  Judea, 
which  crucified  her  Son,  had  chosen 
France  for  her  second  country,  and  one 
that  she  would  never  forsake.  Happy 
country,  thus  specially  privileged  by 
the  Mother  of  God ! 

II.  The  reason  of  these  glorious 
favors  is,  that  France  has  been  for 
centuries  so  devoted  to  Mary,  as  to  be 
preeminently  her  kingdom.  The  great 
Pope  Benedict  XIV.  said  of  France: 
“ ltegnum  Gallice, regnum Marice”  “ the 
kingdom  of  France  is  the  kingdom  of 
Mary ; ” and  hence  he  added : “ Nun- 
quam peribit”  “that  nation  shall  never 
perish/'  In  these  days  of  France's 
great  temporal  and  spiritual  distress, 


ITOVENA. 


35 


Mary  has  visited  her  provinces  of  the 
East,  the  South,  and  the  West,  causing 
holy  sanctuaries  to  be  built  in  the 
scenes  of  her  visitation,  as  beacons  of 
hope  and  bulwarks  of  heavenly  de- 
fence. Looking  at  things  as  God  sees 
them,  these  three  celestial  visitations 
may  well  be  ranked  among  the  most 
important  events  in  the  modern  history 
of  France.  Years  before,  Mary  had 
said  to  the  pious  novice  of  St.  Vincent 
de  Paul,  to  whom  she  revealed  the 
miraculous  medal:  “The  part  of  the 
world  in  which  you  find  my  favors 
flowing  the  most  abundantly,  is 
France.” 

III.  Hence  it  is  that  to  the  shrines 
of  France  pilgrims  flock  in  thousands 
from  every  part  of  the  world.  In  those 
holy  places  they  feel,  as  well  they  may, 
nearer  to  God  and  to  His  holy  Mother 
than  elsewhere;  and  the  Almighty 
shows  His  approval  of  it  by  the  miracles 


36 


NOVENA. 


that  take  place  in  those  holy  shrines, 
and  the  evident  blessings  which  attend 
the  pilgrimages.  Wherever  you  may 
be,  dear  reader,  often  take  part,  in  spirit, 
in  these  holy  pilgrimages.  Let  your 
soul  repair  frequently  to  those  shrines 
of  Mary,  and  specially  to  the  richly 
favored  grotto  of  Lourdes,  there  to 
spend  sweet  moments  in  loving  homage, 
atonement  and  supplication. 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  special  pro- 
tectress of  France,  we  all  unite  in 
thanking  thee  for  thy  goodness  to  that 
favored  country.  O be  her  protectress 
now  above  all  in  these  troublous 
times ; dispel  the  cloud  of  sin  and  in- 
fidelity that  now  obscures  her,  and 
make  her  shine  more  brightly  than 
ever  with  the  light  of  faith  and  virtue. 
We  thank  thee  too  for  the  blessings 
which  from  her  shrines,  and  especially 


STOVENA. 


37 


from  Lourdes,  thou  hast  dispensed 
throughout  the  world.  Deign,  dear 
Mother,  to  make  me  now  a sharer  in 
those  blessings,  both  spiritual  and 
temporal.  O if  it  be  the  will  of  God, 
obtain  for  me  restoration  to  health; 
but  if  that  should  be  a danger  to  my 
soul,  I ask  only  for  resignation  and 
patience  unto  the  end.  Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 

SIXTH  DAY. 

After  Mary's  example  we  must  endure 
our  sufferings  with  patience . 

I.  Suffering  came  into  the  world 
through  sin.  Therefore,  when  we  suffer, 
we  must  not  attribute  it  to  our  good 
God,  but  to  sin,  the  cause  of  all  evil. 
God  did  not  intend  suffering  for  us; 
but  now  that  we  have  brought  it  upon 
ourselves,  He  makes  use  of  it  for  our 
salvation.  He  draws  good  out  of  evil. 


88 


NOVENA. 


He  makes  use  of  suffering  to  draw  us 
to  Him,  as  it  were,  in  spite  of  ourselves. 
How  many  that  had  forgotten  and 
abandoned  God,  have  been  brought 
back  to  Him  by  sickness  and  trials  of 
various  kinds!  How  many  are  in 
Heaven  to-day,  who  would  be  in  hell, 
were  it  not  for  the  sufferings  that 
brought  them  to  their  senses  in  time ! 
And  how  many  are  now  in  hell,  who 
would  have  been  saved,  had  they  only 
profited  by  the  sufferings  of  life ! In 
this  sense,  therefore,  sufferings  are  truly 
“blessings  in  disguise.” 

II.  Suffering  is  now  a universal  law 
here  below.  All  must  suffer,  the  just 
as  well  as  sinners.  It  is  even  the  in- 
heritance which  our  Divine  Lord  has 
left  to  His  best  beloved.  It  is  by  suf- 
ferings that  God  tries  the  fidelity  of 
His  servants,  and  that  He  increases  a 
hundred  fold  that  merit  and  reward. 
Nothing  so  efficaciously  detaches  us 


NOVENA. 


39 


from  the  vanities  of  the  world  as  suffer- 
ing ; nothing  so  surely  casts  a soul  into 
the  arms  of  God.  Hence,  see  how 
much  all  the  saints  and  friends  of  God 
have  suffered.  Abraham  had  his  own 
son  demanded  of  him.  Jacob  had  to 
weep  for  years  over  Joseph,  whom  he 
believed  dead.  Moses  had  to  die  in 
the  desert  without  entering  into  the 
promised  land.  Job  was  cast  from  the 
height  of  prosperity  into  an  abyss  of 
sorrow  and  humiliations.  And  so  with 
many  others,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
martyrs  and  saints  of  the  New  Law. 
Remember  the  words  of  the  angel 
Raphael  to  Tobias:  “Because  thou  wast 
acceptable  to  God,  it  was  necessary 
that  tribulation  should  prove  thee.” 
III.  Hence,  dear  sufferer,  you  must 
never  ask : “ What  have  I done  to  God 
that  He  should  thus  afflict  me  ? ” What 
have  you  done  ? Do  you  then  forget 
the  multitude  of  sins  you  have  com- 


40 


NO VENA. 


mitted,  and  for  which  you  have  never 
done  adequate  penance?  What  have 
you  done  to  God?  But  had  Mary 
done  anything  to  Him  ? And  yet  you 
know  that  her  life  was  one  long  suf- 
fering; her  maternal  heart  had  the 
sword  of  sorrow  through  it  always; 
and  yet  she  was  without  sin,  she  was 
the  Mother  of  God,  and  full  of  grace. 
Mary  never  murmured,  but  endured 
her  sufferings  with  most  perfect  pa- 
tience. Imitate  her  example. 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  sweet  Lady  of  Lourdes,  dur- 
ing thy  whole  life  the  bitter  cup  of 
suffering  was  always  at  thy  lips,  and 
thou  didst  never  murmur.  Alas ! how 
different  have  been  my  dispositions! 
With  all  my  heart  I regret  my  want 
of  generosity  and  resignation,  and  I 
now  desire  to  do  better.  Obtain  for 
me  the  courage  and  patience  that  I 


NOVENA. 


41 


need  in  all  my  trials,  and  especially  in 
these  present  sufferings.  I offer  them 
up  through  thy  hands  in  atonement 
for  my  sins,  and  for  the  good  of  the 
holy  Church.  Deign,  our  dear  Lady 
of  Lourdes,  to  obtain  my  cure.  Burt 
should  that  not  be  for  the  good  of  my 
soul,  obtain  for  me  perfect  resignation! 
and  patience.  Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 

SEVENTH  DAY. 

Where  true  consolation  in  suffering  is  to 
be  found. 

I.  It  is  to  be  found  in  religion,  and 
no  where  else.  Religion  unites  our 
sufferings  with  those  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour,  and  in  that  union  with  Him 
gives  us  peace  and  fortitude.  A cer- 
tain man  who  had  long  neglected  the 
practice  of  religion,  being  brought  to 
death’s  door  by  a protracted  illness, 


42 


NOVENA. 


did  at  last  what  lie  ought  to  have  done 
in  the  very  commencement  of  his  sick- 
ness, made  his  confession  and  received 
Holy  Communion.  The  priest  came 
again  to  see  him  in  the  evening  of  the 
happy  day.  “Well,  my  child,”  said 
he,  “how  do  you  feel  since  this  morn- 
ing ? The  good  God  has  given  you  a 
great  grace,  has  he  not?”  “Yes,  yes, 
Father,”  he  answered  with  gasping 
breath,  but  with  an  unutterable  look  in 
his  face ; “ O yes,  things  go  better  since 
then  ; now  we  are  two , I am  no  longer 
suffering  alone” 

II.  When  you  are  sick,  remember 
that  the  priest  is  your  first  friend,  your 
first  physician.  Send  for  him  at  once. 
Do  not  be  afraid  of  him.  The  priest 
is  the  minister  of  the  God  of  goodness ; 
he  brings  with  him  only  blessings  and 
graces.  People  do  not  sufficiently 
understand  the  good  he  can  do,  the 
treasures  of  peace  and  resignation  that 


NOVENA. 


43 


he  spreads  around  him.  A good  lady, 
besides  being  blind  for  several  years, 
was  confined  to  her  bed  by  an  illness 
which  she  knew  was  incurable.  “ Do 
you  suffer  much  ? ” they  asked  her  one 
day.  “Yes,  very  much,”  she  answered 
quietly.  “There  are  moments  when  I 
fear  I will  lose  patience ; but  then  I 
kiss  my  crucifix,  and  call  upon  our 
blessed  Mother,  and  with  her  help  I 
control  myself.” 

III.  “I  knew  at  Paris,”  says  Mgr. 
de  Segur,  “ a holy  man  who,  after  hav- 
ing lived  without  religion,  came  back 
to  God  with  his  whole  soul.  Plis  fervor 
was  extraordinary,  his  joyousness  con- 
stant and  exuberant.  He  often  suf- 
fered exceedingly;  but  the  more  he 
suffered  the  more  content  he  was.  ‘ It 
is  excellent/  he  used  to  say,  ‘ it  is  ex- 
cellent. It  shows  that  the  good  God 
has  not  forgotten  me.  It  is  good  to 
suffer  with  our  dear  Saviour/  On  his 


44 


X0VENA. 


death-bed,  when  he  was  already  in  his 
agony,  I had  the  happiness  to  pay  him 
a last  visit.  He  seemed  to  be  suffering 
terribly.  ‘ Well,  my  poor  dear  friend/ 
said  I,  ‘ how  do  you  feel  ? ’ ‘ Very  well/ 
said  he,  with  a meaning  look ; ‘ all.  is 
going  well,  very  well/  ‘ Are  you  suf- 
fering much  V ‘Yes,  ves/  he  answered, 
‘ that  is  all  right,  all  is  going  well/  A 
few  hours,  and  he  expired  in  this  ad- 
mirable fervor,  in  this  holy  love  of 
Jesus  crucified.” 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  who 
didst  say  to  Bernadette : “ I promise  to 
make  thee  happy,  not  in  this  world  but 
in  the  world  to  come,”  help  me  to  be 
less  intent  upon  the  gratifications  of 
this  life,  and  more  desirous  of  the  hap- 
piness of  heaven.  Make  me  under- 
stand what  treasures  are  hidden  in 
suffering,  that  I may  not  waste  them. 


K0VENA. 


45 


Enable  me  rightly  to  appreciate  the 
strengthening  and  sanctifying  sacra- 
ments, that  I may  receive  them  de- 
voutly and  profitably.  O by  thy  bitter 
sufferings  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross,  obtain 
for  me  patience  in  my  sufferings,  and, 
if  it  be  the  holy  will  of  God,  restoration 
to  health.  Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 

EIGHTH  DAY. 

“ I am  the  Immaculate  Conception” 

(Words  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  to  Bernadette.) 

I.  The  Most  Blessed  Mary  is  im- 
maculate,— that  is  to  say,  during  her 
mortal  life  her  soul  was  never  stained 
with  any  sin,  either  actual  or  original. 
Through  all  the  ages  of  the  Church 
this  has  been  believed,  though  not  de- 
fined as  an  article  of  faith.  But  on 
the  8th  of  December,  1854,  our  Holy 
Father  Pope  Pius  IX.,  in  his  capacity 


46 


NOVENA. 


of  vicar  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
supreme  head  of  the  Church  on  earth, 
and  infallible  judge  in  matters  of  faith, 
gave  the  highest  confirmation  to  this 
belief  by  solemnly  defining  that  Mary 
was  conceived  without  the  stain  of 
original  sin.  Hence  it  is  a dogma  of 
faith,  as  certain  as  the  existence  of  one 
God  in  three  Persons.  This  definition 
has  been  as  much  a cause  of  joy  to 
heaven  and  earth,  as  it  has  been  of 
rage  to  the  impious  and  to  the  demons. 

II.  Now  the  apparition  of  our  Bless- 
ed Lady  at  Lourdes  is  a miraculous 
confirmation  of  this  dogma,  an  echo 
from  heaven  itself  of  the  definition  of 
Dec.  8th,  1854.  Two  declarations  have 
affirmed  to  us  Mary’s  Immaculate  Con- 
ception. That  of  our  Holy  Father  the 
Pope  establishes  our  faith  in  it  on  the 
rock  of  infallibility;  that  made  by 
Mary  herself,  attracts  to  it  our  tender- 
est  devotion.  Pius  IX.  spoke,  and  the 


NOVENA. 


47 


Christian  world  leaped  for  joy.  But 
see  what  unparalleled  majesty  heaven 
has  been  pleased  to  give  to  his  utter- 
ance. The  holy  Virgin  herself,  from 
her  throne  on  high,  appears  on  earth, 
in  this  lonely  virgin  grotto  of  the 
Pyrenees, — and  hear  what  she  declares 
in  the  most  absolute  manner:  “J  am 
the  Immaculate  Conception” 

III.  What  a motive  of  hope  for 
Christians!  The  sign  of  the  Virgin 
glistens  in  the  Church’s  firmament,  as 
a token  of  coming  peace  and  glory. 
Under  the  banner  of  the  Immaculate 
Conception,  under  the  leadership  of 
her  Queen  conceived  without  sin,  the 
Church  will  crush  the  serpents  head , 
and  God’s  enemies  shall  be  dispersed. 
Let  us  all,  like  faithful  Catholics,  and 
children  of  Mary,  be  worthy  of  our 
Church  and  of  our  Queen.  Walking  in 
her  footsteps,  let  us  lead  a sinless,  holy 
life,  strong  in  faith,  fervent  in  prayer ; 


48 


NOVENA. 


and  often  repeat  the  invocation:  O 
Mary,  conceived  without  sin,  pray  for 
us  who  have  recourse  to  thee. 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  blessed  Lady  of  Lourdes,  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  Virgin  most 
pure  and  stainless,  obtain  for  me  the 
grace  to  be  chaste,  to  avoid  all  occa- 
sions of  sin,  and  to  have  recourse  to 
prayer  whenever  I am  tempted  by  the 
devil,  the  world,  or  the  flesh.  Let  me 
rather  die  than  live  to  commit  sin. 
But  if  it  be  the  holy  will  of  God,  O 
obtain  for  me  my  health,  and  grace  to 
make  use  of  it  for  practising  virtue  and 
gaining  heaven.  Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 

NINTH  DAY. 

The  Necessity  of  doing  Penance . 

I.  “ Unless  you  do  penance,  you  shall 
all  perish  ” Such  was  the  warning  of 


NOVENA. 


49 


our  Blessed  Lord,  such  the  theme  of 
the  preaching  of  the  Apostles.  Such, 
too,  after  nineteen  centuries,  is  the 
teaching  given  us  by  the  holy  Virgin. 
In  one  of  her  apparitions  to  Bernadette, 
Mary's  glance  seemed  to  run  in  an  in- 
stant over  the  whole  earth,  and  then 
her  look  rested  on  the  young  girl  at 
her  feet,  but  it  was  a look  full  of  pain 
and  sorrow.  “What  is  the  matter 
with  you  ? ” murmured  the  child,  “ or 
what  can  I do  for  you  ? ” “ Pray  for 

sinners,"  answered  the  Mother  of  man- 
kind; and  then  she  repeated  three 
times : “ Penance ! penance ! penance ! ” 
And  Bernadette,  advancing  on  her 
knees  toward  the  interior  of  the  grotto, 
repeated  also:  “Penance!  penance! 
penance ! ” 

II.  Penance ! People  hardly  under- 
stand what  it  means,  in  these  our  days, 
although  it  is  the  special  need  of  our 
times,  as  we  may  understand  from 

4 


50 


KOVENA. 


Mary’s  thrice  repeated  call  to  penance. 
Why  i 3 it  that  our  prayers  are  so  sel- 
dom granted  ? It  is  because  we  do  not 
give  prayer  the  two  wings  that  bear 
it  most  surely  to  the  throne  of  God, 
namely,  penance  and  works  of  mercy. 
The  Holy  Scripture  tells  us  that 
prayer  is  good , but  above  all  when 
united  with  fasting  and  alms-deeds. 
Without  these,  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
it  loses  much  of  its  efficacy.  Alms- 
deeds  touch  the  heart  of  God,  while 
penance  and  mortification  render  us 
more  fit  to  pray  and  more  worthy  to 
be  heard.  It  is  these  two  things  above 
all  that  our  piety  lacks,  but  especially 
the  latter;  for  people  still  give  some 
alms,  even  if  scantily,  but  who  thinks 
now  of  penance  and  mortification  as 
our  fathers  used  to  do  ? 

III.  Hence  we  need  penance;  we 
need  suffering;  it  is  the  law  of  justice 
and  atonement.  Now,  dear  sufferer, 


XOVENA. 


51 


since  you  have  the  means  of  doing 
penance  quite  at  hand  in  your  present 
affliction,  put  it  to  good  profit,  and,  as 
they  say,  make  a virtue  of  necessity . 
Offer  up  your  sufferings  in  atonement 
for  your  sins,  and  in  union  with  the 
sufferings  of  our  dear  Saviour  on  Cal- 
vary, and  thus  you  will  even  add  greater 
efficacy  to  the  prayers  you  offer  up  for 
your  relief  and  cure.  Do  not  say : “ It 
is  too  hard  to  do  that ; I am  incapable 
of  it.”  Whenever  Almighty  God  sends 
trials,  He  always  — understand,  I say 
always  — gives  also  grace  to  profit  by 
them.  The  divine  hand  that  wounds 
us  for  our  healing,  is  also  the  one  that 
pours  balm  upon  the  wTound.  Remem- 
ber, therefore,  submission ! love ! trust ! 
prayer ! 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  who  hast 
so  strongly  recommended  penance,  help 


52 


NOVENA. 


me  to  accept  as  I ought  the  penance 
which  God  sends  me,  and  to  profit  by 
the  sufferings  which  I have  to  bear. 
Enable  me  to  understand  rightly  the 
wickedness  of  sin,  and  how  terrible  are 
its  consequences  for  this  life  and  for 
the  life  to  come.  And  may  this  under- 
standing make  me  eager  to  do  all  pos- 
sible penance  for  the  sins  I have  com- 
mitted, and  careful  not  to  fall  into 
them  again.  May  this  holy  n oven  a 
have  the  effect  of  lastingly  increasing 
my  devotion  toward  thee,  dear  Mother ; 
and  at  its  close  I again  beseech  thee, 
if  it  be  for  the  best,  to  obtain  my  resto- 
ration to  health,  though  I add,  in  the 
sincerity  of  my  soul,  not  my  will,  but 
God’s  will  and  thine  be  done.  Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 


NO  VEX  A. 


53 


CONCLUSION. 

The  Blessed  Virgin  always  Hears  our 
Prayers . 

I.  The  parish  priest  of  Lourdes,  wish- 
ing a sign  of  the  truth  of  the  appari- 
tions, told  Bernadette  to  ask  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  that  the  wild  rose-bush, 
growing  out  of  the  rock  beneath  where 
she  used  to  stand,  should  bloom,  it 
being  then  the  month  of  February. 
When  Bernadette  presented  this  re- 
quest to  Mary,  the  holy  Virgin  only 
smiled.  But  the  next  day,  instead  of 
the  small  and  transient  sign  asked  for 
by  the  priest,  the  Mother  of  God 
granted  a far  greater  one  by  causing 
a miraculous  fountain  to  spring  forth. 
The  blooming  of  the  rose-bush  would 
have  been  only  a single  miracle,  that 
would  have  passed  with  its  next  with- 
ering ; whereas  the  miraculous  fountain 
is  not  only  a great  miracle  in  itself, 


54 


NO  YEN  A. 


but  a constant  source  of  many  other 
miracles.  O how  much  better  the 
Blessed  Virgin  knows  what  is  for  the 
best  than  we  do ! 

II.  In  like  manner,  dear  sufferer,  be 
sure  that  our  good  Mother  always  re- 
ceives our  prayers  with  a loving  smile. 
Often  she  does  not  grant  us  all  the 
favors  and  consolations  we  ask,  nor 
just  such  as  we  ask;  but  it  is  because 
she  loves  us  more  wisely  than  we  know 
how  to  love  ourselves.  Sometimes  she 
obtains  for  us  the  very  contrary  of 
what  we  ask,  because  that  is  what  we 
need,  and  she  knows  better  than  we 
what  is  best  for  us.  But  rest  assured, 
says  Mgr.  de  Segur,  that  Mary  always 
hears  our  prayer  and  obtains  for  us 
the  graces  and  blessings  of  God,  often 
more  than  we  asked  for.  In  heaven  we 
shall  see  with  what  motherly  love  she 
has  ever  watched  over  her  servants,  and 
from  what  dangers  she  has  saved  them. 


NOVENA. 


55 


III.  Hasten,  then,  to  the  dear  Holy 
Virgin  whenever  you  are  in  affliction  or 
suffering  of  any  kind.  Ask  her  for 
patience  more  ardently  than  for  relief; 
for  holiness,  more  ardently  than  for  any 
earthly  benefit.  Never  ask  for  tem- 
poral favors,  except  on  condition  that 
you  should  use  them  for  the  good  of 
your  soul.  Pray  to  her  then  with  all 
your  heart ; love  her  devotedly ; she 
will  be  with  you  as  your  sweet  helper 
and  comforter,  during  the  whole  course 
of  your  life,  and  at  the  hour  of  your 
death. 

Blessed  be  the  holy  and  Immaculate 
Conception  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary ! 

Prayer  to  our  Lady  of  Lourdes. 

O Immaculate  Virgin, 

Mother  of  mercy, 

Health  of  the  weak, 

Refuge  of  sinners, 

Comforter  of  the  afflicted, 

Thou  knowest  our  needs  and  our 


56 


NO VENA. 


sufferings.  Deign  to  look  on  us  pity- 
ingly, and  to  help  us  bountifully.  By 
appearing  in  the  grotto  of  Lourdes, 
thou  hast  shown  that  thou  didst  wish 
it  to  be  a privileged  spot,  whence  thou 
shouldst  dispense  thy  favors  with 
special  abundance.  Already,  very 
many  have  there  found  the  cure  both 
of  their  souls  and  of  their  bodies. — 
Though  we  are  so  far  distant  from  that 
holy  place,  yet  even  from  afar  we  call 
to  thee,  O dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  and 
ask  that  we  may  be  sharers  in  those 
blessings.  Hear  our  humble  prayer, 
O loving  and  beloved  Mother ; help 
us  in  our  bodily  needs  and  spiritual 
infirmities  ; may  our  gratitude  for  thy 
favors  make  us  still  more  careful  to 
imitate  thy  virtues  during  all  our  life, 
that  so  we  may  one  day  come  to  share 
with  thee  in  the  glory  of  heaven. 
Amen. 

Our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for 
us. 


3T0VENA. 


57 


g\wt  gttdulgtttrtA  f 

The  sick  often  complain  that  they  “cannot 
say  their  prayers.”  It  would  indeed  be  un- 
reasonable to  expect  that  they  should  be  able 
to  repeat  long  formulas  of  prayer.  It  is  not 
best  that  they  should  even  try  to  do  so. — 
Short  loving  prayers,  frequently  repeated, 
will  be  found  not  only  easier,  but  more  profit- 
able. The  following  ejaculations,  having 
indulgences  attached  to  them,  may  be 
specially  recommended.  The  friends  of  the 
sick  should  frequently  suggest  one  or  another 
of  them  to  the  sufferer. 

My  Jesus,  mercy!  (100  days  indulgence.) 

Jesus!  Mary!  (25  days.) 

Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph,  I give  you  my  heart 
and  my  soul.  (100  days.) 

Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph,  assist  me  in  my  last 
agony.  (100  days.) 

Jesus,  Mary,  Joseph,  may  I die  in  peace, 
in  your  blessed  company.  (100  days.) 


58 


NOVENA. 


O sweet  Jesus,  be  not  my  Judge,  but  my 
Saviour.  (80  days.) 

Make  devoutly  the  sign  of  the  Cross,  (50 
days.) 

Kiss  the  crucifix  with  respect.  ( A year.) 

O Mary  conceived  without  sin,  pray  for  us 
who  have  recourse  to  thee.  (100  days.) 

May  the  most  just,  most  high,  most  ador- 
able will  of  God,  be  in  all  things  done,  and 
praised,  and  forever  magnified.  (100  days , 
once  a day.) 

Blessed  be  the  holy  and  Immaculate  Con- 
ception of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary.  (100 
days.) 


%j\t  cf  ©nr  of  ^onrbrs. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Lord,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us. 

Christ,  graciously  hear  ns. 

God  the  Father  of  heaven,  have  mercy  on  us. 

God  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world,  have 
mercy  on  us. 

God  the  Holy  Ghost,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Holy  Trinity,  one  God,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  pray  for  ns. 

Mother,  who  art  the  Model  of  all 
Mothers, 

Mother,  who  didst  suffer  so  much, 

Mother,  who  wast  poor  and  shelterless, 

Mother,  who  didst  journey  to  Bethlehem 
amid  the  hardships  and  cold  of  winter, 

Mother,  who  didst  find  for  thy  Son  and  . 
thy  God  no  refuge  but  the  stable  grotto, 
and  no  cradle  but  a manger, 

Who  hast  declared : I am  the  Immac- 
ulate Conception, 

Who  didst  appear  to  an  humble  peas- 
ant girl,  to  teach  us  humility, 


59 


Our  Lady  of  Lourdes , pray  for  us. 


NOVENA. 


60 


Who  wast  clothed  with  a snow-white  ' 
robe,  to  teach  us  purity, 

Who  didst  wear  an  azure-blue  girdle,  to 
remind  us  of  heaven, 

Who  didst  stand  with  the  thorny  rose- 
bush under  thy  feet,  to  remind  us  that 
we  are  to  get  to  heaven  by  suffering 
in  this  life, 

Who  didst  carry  a rosary  in  thy  hand, 
to  exhort  us  to  prayer, 

Who  didst  keep  thy  hands  joined  and 
thy  eyes  raised  toward  heaven,  to  ex- 
hort us  to  penance, 

Who  art  the  Star  of  Hope, 

Who  wilt  save  Rome  and  our  Holy 
Father  the  Pope, 

Who  wilt  save  France, 

Who  dost  intercede  for  us  with  the  Sa- 
cred Heart  of  Jesus, 

Who  dost  help  and  strengthen  the  clergy, 
in  their  labors  for  souls, 

Who  dost  heal  the  sick, 

Who  art  the  health  of  the  weak, 

Who  art  the  Refuge  of  sinners, 

Who  art  the  Com  fortress  of  the  afflicted,  J 
0 Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  conceived  with- 
out sin,  pray  for  us  who  have  recourse  to 
thee. 


Our  Lady  of  J .ourdes,  pray  for  us. 


NOVEXA. 


61 


Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world,  spare  us,  O Lord. 

Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world,  graciously  hear  us,  O Lord. 
Lamb  of  God,  who  takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world,  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ,  hear  us.  Christ,  graciously  hear  us. 
R.  Pray  for  us,  O Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  Holy 
Mother  of  God. 

if.  That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the 
promises  of  Christ. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

O our  dear  Lady  of  Lourdes,  who  under 
that  sweet  title  hast  already  wrought  so  many 
miracles,  stretch  forth  thy  loving  and  power- 
ful hand  to  protect  our  Holy  Father  the 
Pope,  to  save  France,  and  to  help  us  who  im- 
plore thy  aid.  Obtain  that  our  hearts  may 
be  filled  with  the  spirit  of  faith,  hope,  and 
charity.  Believing  as  we  do  in  the  truth  of 
thy  apparitions,  and  in  thy  boundless  influ- 
ence with  thy  Divine  Son,  we  have  recourse 
to  thee  in  our  need.  Save  Rome!  Save 
France ! Obtain  for  us  the  favor  which  we 
ask  through  thy  intercession.  Amen. 


Confraternilg  of  t\z  Immaculate  Conception 

ESTABLISHED  L2s  THE 

Church  of  the  Grotto  of  Lourdes, 

Dec.  8/A,  1872,  by  Mgr.  Pichenot. 

1 . All  persons  without  distinction  are  ad- 
mitted to  membership. 

2.  The  person’s  name  in  full  must  be  sent 
to  the  Superior  of  the  Missionaries  at  Lonrdesy 
France.  (No  other  direction  than  this  is 
necessary.) 

3.  A card  of  admission,  indicating  the  con- 
ditions to  be  complied  with,  is  sent  to  each 
applicant. 

4.  A mass  is  offered  up  every  day  in  the 
church  of  our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  for  the  Pope, 
for  France,  and  for  all  the  members  of  the 
confraternity. 

62 


THE 


ARCHCONFRATEENITY 

O P 

f mmantldf  Collection: 

®f  the  Blessed  Firgin  Marg, 

( Or  of  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes ,) 

Was  canonically  established  at  Notre  Dame,  Indiana, 
with  Episcopal  Approbation  on  the  8th  of  December, 
1874, and  is  affiliated  to  the  Archconfraternityerected 
in  the  Church  of  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes,  by  a special 
decree  from  Rome. 


Rev.  A.  GRANGER,  C.S.C. 

NOTICE  DAME, 

Saint  Joseph',?  County , Ind, 


Tickets  of  admission,  &c.,  as  also  the  Water  of 
Lourdes,  may  be  had  by  applying  to  the  Director. 


ftovena  and  Prayers  to  Onr  Lady  of  Lonrdcs  for  the  Sick  and  Afflicted 
With  an  Account  of  the  Apparition.  Prom  the  French,  em- 
bellished with  a Fine  Photograph  of  Our  Lady  of  Lourdes, 
as  she  appeared  to  Bernadette.  Paper,  25  cts.;  flexible  cloth, 
40  cts.  Can  be  had  by  applying  to  the  Director,  as  above. 


3/a//,  1876. 

Murphy  & Co’s  Sew  & Recent  Publications. 

New  and  Seasonable  Books  on  the  Sacred  Heart,  &c. 
Manual  of  the  Sodality  of  the  Sacred  Heart 
of  Jesus  A complete  Manual  of  Devotion  to  the 
Sacred  Heart.  Third  Enlarged  Edition. 

32o.  cloth,  50  cts.;  cloth  gilt,  75 
To  render  the  Second  Edition  more  worthy  of  the  patron- 
age of  all  the  devout  clients  of  the  Sacred  Heart,  whether 
members  of  the  Sodality  or  not,  it  has  been  made  a Com- 
plete Manual  of  Devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart,  so 
that  all  mav  find  in  it  the  mental  or  vocal  prayers  which 
they  may  desire,  either  for  daily  use  or  for  the  occasions  of 
special  devotions  to  the  S.  Heart  which  occur  during  they  ear. 

LIBRARY  OR  THE  SACRED  HEART. 

Comprising  the  following  Popular  Works : 

1.  Devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesns. 

2.  The  Paradise  of  God;  or,  Virtues  of  the  S.  Heart. 

3.  The  Holy  Communion:  It  is  my  Life,  &c* 

4.  God  Our  Father.  By  Author  of  Happiness  of  Heaven. 

5.  Practical  Piety.  By  St.  Francis  de  Sales. 

6.  The  Happiness  of  Heaven. 

Uniform  Editions , printed  on  fine  tinted  paper,  6 
volumes,  in  boxes,  cloth  beveled,  $ti;  cloth  gilt,  $9. 

The  Works  selected  for  this  series  are  such  as  recommend 
themselves  to  every  sincere  Christian,  and  allof  them  have 
long  been  favorites  with  pious  souls  in  every  walk  of  life. 
We  may  be  allowed  to  say,  that  we  offer  here  a collection 
of  gems,  each  precious  and  beautiful  in  itself  and  ail  re- 
ceiving additional  grace  from  their  union. 

Catechism  of  Devotion  to  the  Sacred  Heart, 
clotn,  40,  paper,  25  cts.;  per  100,  §15  net. 
Catechism  of  the  Apostle  ship  of  Prayer, 
cloth,  40,  paper,  25  cts. ; per  100,  §15  net. 

These  two  little  books  are  admirable  forthe  clearness  and 
fulness  of  their  explanations  on  the  subjects  they  treat. 
The  Apostleship  of  Prayer,  A Holy  League 
of  Christian  Hearts  United  with  the  Heart  of 
Jesus  to  obtain  the  Triumph  of  the  Church  and 
the  Salvation  of  Souls.  2d  edition.  12o.  cl.  $L50 
Manual  of  the  Apostleship  of  Prayer, 

An  abridgment  of  the  above.  35  cts. 
Every  Member  of  the  Association  ought  to  secure  a oopy. 
It  contains  all  the  Prayers,  Indulgences,  &o. 

IIURPHY  & CO.,  Publishers,  Baltimore. 

1 


7 


